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Gilas grouped with Jordan, Taipei and Saudi Arabia for FIBA Asia tourney
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(Updated 3:01pm) The Philippine men's national basketball team, also known as Gilas, chose to be part of Group A for the upcoming FIBA Asia Tournament in August, joining Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Saudi Arabia, Tuesday during the draw at the Manila Hotel.
Unlike in previous FIBA Asia tournament draws, this one was totally random, without the best teams being seeded individually, which was the case in the past.
FIBA Asia representatives took turns drawing balls from Box 2, which contain the groups, before matching them with a country from Box 1.
As the host country, the Philippines was not included in the random draw, and instead got to choose their path after 12 prior groupings.
Presented with a choice of Group A - Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Saudi Arabia, Group B - Japan, Qatar, and Lebanon, Group C - China, Korea and Iran, and Group D - Kazakhstan, SEA-1, and India, the Philippines opted for Group A.
The last three countries were then randomly assigned to the remaining slots.
Said assistant Norman Black, who communicated the choice of Group A, after consultation with Gilas head coach Chot Reyes, "Joining Group A will give us the best shot at finishing either at one or two going into the semis."
Reyes, and the majority of the Gilas squad, is currently in Lithuania as part of their training camp.
After the group stage, the last team in the four groups will be eliminated. Groups A and B will then merge into one group while the three top teams from Group C will merge with the survivors of Group D.
The reasoning behind the selection of Group A is to have the best shot at finishing either first or second heading into the knockout quarterfinals.
If the Philippines ends up first or second in their Group A & B merging, it will mean that they will not face either China or Iran in the quarterfinals.
Instead, they could face teams like Kazakhstan or South Korea in the crossovers.
"That's the plan heading into the semis," said Black. "Then we'll take it from there."
This year's FIBA Asia tournament is slated for August 1-11 in Manila. - Carlo Pamintuan / AMD, GMA News
Group A
Jordan
Chinese Taipei
Saudi Arabia
Philippines
Group B
Japan
Qatar
Lebanon
Hong Kong
Group C
China
Korea
Iran
SEA-2
Group D
Kazakhstan
SEA-1
India
Bahrain
Unlike in previous FIBA Asia tournament draws, this one was totally random, without the best teams being seeded individually, which was the case in the past.
FIBA Asia representatives took turns drawing balls from Box 2, which contain the groups, before matching them with a country from Box 1.
As the host country, the Philippines was not included in the random draw, and instead got to choose their path after 12 prior groupings.
Presented with a choice of Group A - Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Saudi Arabia, Group B - Japan, Qatar, and Lebanon, Group C - China, Korea and Iran, and Group D - Kazakhstan, SEA-1, and India, the Philippines opted for Group A.
The last three countries were then randomly assigned to the remaining slots.
Said assistant Norman Black, who communicated the choice of Group A, after consultation with Gilas head coach Chot Reyes, "Joining Group A will give us the best shot at finishing either at one or two going into the semis."
Reyes, and the majority of the Gilas squad, is currently in Lithuania as part of their training camp.
After the group stage, the last team in the four groups will be eliminated. Groups A and B will then merge into one group while the three top teams from Group C will merge with the survivors of Group D.
The reasoning behind the selection of Group A is to have the best shot at finishing either first or second heading into the knockout quarterfinals.
If the Philippines ends up first or second in their Group A & B merging, it will mean that they will not face either China or Iran in the quarterfinals.
Instead, they could face teams like Kazakhstan or South Korea in the crossovers.
"That's the plan heading into the semis," said Black. "Then we'll take it from there."
This year's FIBA Asia tournament is slated for August 1-11 in Manila. - Carlo Pamintuan / AMD, GMA News
Group A
Jordan
Chinese Taipei
Saudi Arabia
Philippines
Group B
Japan
Qatar
Lebanon
Hong Kong
Group C
China
Korea
Iran
SEA-2
Group D
Kazakhstan
SEA-1
India
Bahrain
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